The municipality of Kriva Palanka is located in the North - Eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia.
Situated between three borders, it has an important geostrategic position.On the North, it borders the Republic of Serbia and on the North-East, the Republic of Bulgaria.Throughout the centuries, the important route that links the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula with Asia Minorhas been passing through Kriva Palanka (nowadays, it is Corridor E-8). Situated on the way M-2, the town is directly linked by bus line with two biger centers : Kr. Palanka - Skopje (98 km) and Kriva Palanka - Sofia (140 km). The railway line of the Corridor E-8 is still in construction.The town is the administrative , economic and cultural center of the municipality that consists about 35 populated areas.

The town Kriva Palanka (680 m above the sea level) and the region have a moderate continental climate, with more than 200 sunny days per year. The average temperature per year is 10.2°C. In the center of the city, the rushing mountain river Durachka Reka flows into the river Kriva Reka.

These mountain rivers gather their waters from the numerous springs in the mountain Osogovo, which is plentiful with natural beauties: forests, pastures and high mountain points (Ruen 2252 m , Carev Vrv 2086m).
The hillsides of Osogovo offer wide oportunities for the development of winter sports.
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This region was an important one in the past as well.Its location on a vital crossroad secured a role of a linkage between people and civilizations.
In this region, there are rich archeological sites with known chronology from the neolit till the Middle Age.

Kriva Palanka today​

Towards the end of the XIV century, Kriva Palanka Region fell under the Turkish rule.The city of Kriva Palanka (Egri Dere) was founded in 1634, during the rule of the Turkish vizier Bajram - Pasha.In order to strenghten their rule against the rebellious macedonian population, thr Turks built a fortress preserving the safety of the caravans from Skopje, Thessaloniki and Dubrovnik and other cities which used to pass through the region of Kriva Palanka. ​

Besides, this omportant corridor has been used by the troops of the first macedonian tzar Samuil in the X century, the army of the Serbian king Stefan Dechanski, the armies of the Turkish sultan Murat I on his way to Kosovo pole (1389) and of Mehmed II "Conqueror" on his way to Bosnia, and also by numerous caravans, merchants and travelers, such as Evlija Chelebija, Hadzi Kalpha, Ami Bue, Konstantin Irechek etc.As early as in 1661, Evlija Chelebija described Kriva Palanka as a town of approximately 800 households. The mining tradition of the XII century Sasi miners was renewed and the iron mines reopened. The metal products of this regions were among the most demanded in the Ottoman Empire. In 1689, the people from the North - Eastern Macedonia organized an uprising against the Turks. The uprising, known as Karposh 's, began in Kriva Palanka.As the uprising center, kriva Palanka was a free town for a couple of months.This event exerted a strong influence over all the other subsequent revolutionery movements. In the XIX century, social and economic conditions favorable to the development of Kriva Palanka were created.In this period, it was considered as a developed city.In 1870, Kr. Palanka had 4352 inhabitants (3252 Macedonians and 1100 Turks). Ther were around 250 traders and artisans.The development of the craftsmanship and the formation of a class of town leaders and inteligentsia educated in Skopje,Thessaloniki, Sofia, Belgrade, Brussels Paris and other European cities, brought about prosperity for Kr. Palanka, reflected in its economic and cultural life and construction of both secular and church buildings. In 1833 the church school was replaced by the popular Joakim Krchovski (one of the first Macedonian writers in popular language).The people of the region took an active part in the Ininden uprising in 1903. Macedonia and Kriva Palanka were liberated from the Turkish rule in 1912. From 1912 till 1915, the region was governed by Serbs and from 1915 till 1918 by the Bulgarians. In 1918, Macedonia and Kriva Palanka became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, regardless of the will of the macedonian people. Between the two World Wars, Kriva Palanka experienced a decline instead of progress.
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The inability to secure a normal living generated a massive emigration wave abroad, including the USA and South America. At this time, Kriva Palanka got the first doctors of science among its citizens.In 1936, the brothers Boris and Dimitar Arsovi earned Ph. D. degrees from Sorbone. During the II World War the citizens of Kriva Palanka took an active part in the fight against the fashists ( 139 solders from the region were killed and 128 civilians were victims of the fashists terror.​

After the liberation (October 8, 1944), and the creation of a Macedonian state within Yugoslavia, a new phase of the development began. Many cultural instituions - city library, cinema, Cultural center were founded and medical center, schools as well. Many factories - textile, carpet, forest industry, mining and agricultural cooperatives were established.​

Efforts were also made to complete the infrastructure and improve the living conditions, constructing water systems, new roads, houses and buildings. Following the dissolution of the SFRY, an independent and sovereign Macedonian state was created by the September 8, 1991 referendum. Kriva Palanka got its first pluralistic municipal assemnly.​

The reforms are being carried out on all levels - social, political, economic.But, the process of transition is accompained by various social tensions - the jobs of a large number of workers have been affected by several bancroptcies while 4500 young people are still looking for their first jobs.The key prerequisities for a better future are completion of the restructuring and modernization process and development of the private sector. Today, Kriva Palanka is a town of around 15000 inhabitants. Built through the centuries, this place is more than ever facing the future, determined to become once again a decent place for living and atractive destination for turists and visitors as well.
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The "Osogovo," or Osogovska Mountain is the highest mountain in eastern Macedonia. This mountain focuses its range along the boarder of Macedonia and Bulgaria. (Istok-Zapad). The Osogovo, as a region, represents a very important part of development for Kriva Palanka and the Kriva Palanka Region as a whole. The Osogovia describes region between "Claviskata Kolina," "Srednorek," "Zletovsko Pole," "Kocanska Kotlina," and "Pijanecka Kotlina," a part of the "Kratovo Eruptive Region," and the region around Macedonian-Bulgarian borders, more specifically, the Kjustendil Region. This would be a total area of 4200km2, of which 3270km2, or 77% is Macedonian territory and 930km2, or 23% is Bulgarian territory. The distance between the furthest point west and the furthest point east is 110km, and the middle width of the mountain is 50km. The Osogovo Region is rich with springs, overflowing waters, and rivers. These resources are due to the high altitude and geological character. One specific character shows, within it's' make-up, a crystal-like build-up enriched by strong and cold water springs, of which, are found plentifully throughout the mountains--Especially on the highest peaks: Ruen, Carev Point, Kalin Kamen, and Kitka.

The lake is situated 25 km western from Kriva Palanka, in the neighboring Municipality - Rankovci. Site visiting offers many possibilities for recreation, especially for sport fishing (organizing competitions).

Fish - pond
"Durachka reka"
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The lake produces different kinds of fish. Near the lake, there is a motel "Krater" - Ginovci, located on the road Kriva Palanka - Kumanovo

According to many midle - age sources,Gradec was one of the most important strategic settlments in Kriva Palanka surroundings.In a distance of few kilometers from the town, it is situated on the right bank of the river Kriva Reka. The develop economy allows a long period of normal and organized living.
Gradec is mentioned in some documents from 15 century, as a place where St. Joakim Osogovski lived, during the end of 11 century ( in a cave near the village). The people from Gradec were the first who have settled in Kriva Palanka in 17 century, and done remarkable historical and cultural development of the town and the region.
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